To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:11:51 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

Russia To Host Middle East Multilateral Talks

MOSCOW, Jan 31, 2000 -- (Reuters) Russia will host the first multilateral
Middle East talks in more than three years on Tuesday in a move intended to
underline Moscow's push for a bigger role in the strategically important
region.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
will jointly chair the talks, which bring together representatives from Israel, a
string of Arab states and donor countries including Japan and the European
Union.

Full Story:
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=130121&text

-----------------------

The Internet Battlefield In War Between Russia, Chechnya
By Marina Koreneva

Russia and Chechnya may be battling building by building in the ravaged
rebel capital Grozny, but they are also fighting a brutal information war in
cyberspace.

Since the Chechen ground offensive started in October, Moscow and Grozny
have waged a war of words daily on the Internet.

Several sites post contradictory propaganda on the federal forces' advances
in Chechnya and human losses, as well as reprints of Russian and foreign
articles each side deems favorable to its cause.

Full Story:
http://www.russiatoday.com/features.php3?id=130168

_________________________
To subscribe to BPR send a message to bpr-list@philologos.org
with the word "subscribe" in the subject. To unsubscribe send a
message to the same address with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today (1/31/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:26:49 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

The Hevron wall

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Arutz-7

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- Israeli government ministers voted yesterday to
recommend that the army build a protective wall around the Jewish
neighborhood of Admot Yeshai (Tel Romeida) - despite the objections of the
residents. The latter maintain that containing them within a ghetto and
closing them off from the rest of Hevron will only endanger their security.
O.C. Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon is also against
constructing such a wall.

Euro will rebound insist European finance ministers

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: AP

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- European finance ministers insisted Monday that the
euro's tumble to record lows against the dollar is only temporary, but the
chief European central banker warned of inflation risks if the currency's
weakness lingers. With no action taken to prop up the euro, the single
currency of 11 European nations fell to a new low of 96.75 U.S. cents on
Monday. The previous low of 97.38 cents was reached Friday. Ministers of
the euro countries predicted a robust economic recovery in Europe will soon
be pushing the euro upward. "The euro has potential for appreciation, firmly
based on growth and internal price stability," the ministers said in a joint
statement with the European Central Bank. "A strong economy goes along
with a strong currency."

EU threatens to cut Austria ties because of far-right Freedom Party

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: AP

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- The European Union will break off political contacts with
any future Austrian government that includes the far-right Freedom Party, the
EU president warned in a statement today. The governments of the other 14
EU states will not back Austrian candidates for posts in international
organizations. Austrian ambassadors in EU capitals also ``will only be
received at a technical level,'' said a tough statement issued by Portugal,
which holds the EU presidency, on behalf of the other member states. The
prospect of Haider influencing Austrian policy has brought fierce criticism
from EU leaders because of his statements in opposition to EU expansion
and remarks sympathetic to aspects of the Nazi regime.

Britain asks U.S. to share anti-ballistic missile defense plans with Europe

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: The London Times

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- Britain has asked Washington for the first time to
consider protecting Europe as well as the United States if it goes ahead with
building a national anti-ballistic missile defence system to protect America
from rogue missile attacks. Although the proposed US defence system,
consisting of 100 interceptors based in Alaska, would be aimed at protecting
America from a long-range missile attack from North Korea - a scenario that
would not threaten Britain or other European countries - the British
Government would be interested in benefiting from possible future phases of
the program that would provide defences against Iran and Iraq. The British
Government and other governments in Europe have been consulted by
Washington, which has supplied alarming intelligence about the potential
missile threat from North Korea, Iran and Iraq, and possibly Libya. America's
Nato allies, however, have been more concerned about the threat to the ABM
treaty and the damage it might cause to relations with Russia.

Russia for stronger military relations with Syria

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: ArabicNews

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vassili Cerdin has
said that Moscow intends to develop military cooperation with Syria. Cerdin
stated that the Russian retreat from weapon's market in the Middle East is
not logical and unfruitful at a time when other countries continue to pump
weapons into the area.He remarked on Israel and Turkey's supremacy and
compiling of weapons noting that Moscow sees no reason for minimizing its
cooperation with Damascus in order to achieve defense sufficiency. The
statement of the Russian official is of special importance because it refutes
what has been mentioned of coolness in relations between Moscow and
Damascus as Syria has refused to join the regional multilateral talks due to
start in Moscow in February.

Pope's visit to Israel is security nightmare

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- The impending visit to Israel by Pope John Paul II is “a
nightmare for the General Security Service (GSS/Shin Bet) and health
services.” Security agencies are most concerned the visit will prompt
extremist elements to attempt a terrorist attack or his age or health may
require his hospitalization while in Israel, or even worse, he might die in Israel
during the visit. The biggest fear is the head of the Catholic Church will go to
his eternal rest while in Israel, perhaps in Nazareth, the birthplace of
Christianity, which according to event organizers would be “the end of the
world”.

New Hizbullah explosive device has Israel military concerned

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- Senior IDF commanders believe that a new explosive
device being deployed in the security zone of southern Lebanon may be
deadlier than anything seen previously. The new explosive devices appear
capable of permeating the defensive layers used to protect IDF and SLA
outposts in the security zone. Military commanders believe that the new
explosives have already been deployed around the zone and have been in
use over the past weeks. The device explodes out into the air, scattering
metallic objects, which increase its deadly effect. Hizbullah has also recently
acquired more sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles manufactured in China, far
exceeding the capabilities of the Russian shoulder-held missiles used
previously.

Jordan Valley community abandoned by IDF

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Mon Jan 31,2000 -- As part of what the military is calling its austerity
program, the Jordan Valley communities of Kfar Mecholah, Kibbutz Gilgal,
Patzael, Rotem, and Shadmot Mecholah are now left on their own and are no
longer manned by soldiers to assist in protecting the communities. By the
end of the year, soldiers assigned to communities throughout Yesha are also
being pulled out.

6.8 strong earthquake hits northern Japan

Weekend News Today
By Weekend Staff
Source: Yahoo! AP

Sun Jan 30,2000 -- A 6.8 strong earthquake shook northern Japan Friday
night around 11:21 p.m., slightly injuring two people. The quake centered
about 35 miles under the floor of the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of
Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, the Meteorological Agency said. It was
felt most strongly in the cities of Kushiro and Nemuro and the towns of
Nakashibetsu, Akkeshi and Betsukai in Hokkaido. People in the northern
region of Honshu, Japan's main island, also felt the quake.

Congressional panel told U.S. and Canada have become terrorist havens

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: Middle East Newsline

Sun Jan 30,2000 -- The United States and Canada have become havens for
Islamic terrorists from the Middle East, a congressional panel has been told.
Counterterrorism expert Steven Emerson cited the liberal climate in the
United States, the ability to hide under mainstream religious identification,
loopholes in immigration procedures, ease of penetration of borders,
compartmentalization of terrorist cells around loosely structured terrorist
movements.

Freak winter snowstorm hits southern U.S.

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: Reuters

Sun Jan 30,2000 -- Residents in several Southern U.S. states woke up on
Saturday to snow and freezing rain as a rare winter storm swept through the
region, snarling traffic, canceling flights and complicating preparations for
Sunday's Super Bowl game. The storm, part of an unusual patch of winter
weather blanketing much of the Deep South, dumped up to a foot and a half
of snow in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee and coated
northern Georgia with freezing rain.

Blair planning Euro-superstate

Weekend News Today
By Kelly Pagatpatan
Source: Yahoo

Sun Jan 30,2000 -- Conservative leader William Hague says Tony Blair and
Brussels bureaucrats are pushing ahead with plans to create a European
superstate. Mr Hague argued that European Commission proposals
published this week could lead to further EU integration, and a limiting of
member states' right to use their national veto. "They are pushing for a
European Union with its own government, its own army, its own taxes, its
own foreign policy, its own criminal justice system, its own constitution, as
well as its own currency - in other words, a single European state. The
submission is an integrationist wish-list - the blueprint for a single European
state," Mr Hague told the Council of Europe's European Democrat Group.

U.S. rabbis fear their prayers will trigger riots

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Ha'aretz

Fri Jan 28,2000 -- North American Reform rabbis, who are protesting a bill to
turn the Western Wall into an ultra-Orthodox synagogue, have canceled
plans to pray there for fear of causing a riot. "We feared that if we prayed at
the Wall, it would give rise to a mass protest by the ultra-Orthodox who were
slated to demonstrate there that day, and then Prime Minister Ehud Barak
would have to respond," said delegation head Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. The
rabbis visiting Israel said they were concerned about ruffling the prime
minister's feathers in the face of the currently strained peace talks with the
Syrians. "We didn't want to compromise Ehud Barak's position right now
because we came to endorse his peace efforts," explained Hirsch. The
leaders had planned to pray at the Wall as an expression of support for
religious pluralism in Israel. The demonstration would have come in the wake
of a bill presented by Shas two weeks ago, calling for the entire Western
Wall complex to be declared an Orthodox area. "It is outrageous. The
Western Wall is not an ultra-Orthodox synagogue, it's a central shrine of the
Jewish people and the proposal should be opposed with vigor," Hirsch told
Anglo File. "I would be surprised if it passes, but if it does it will cause a
huge crisis with Diaspora Jewry."

_________________________
To subscribe to BPR send a message to bpr-list@philologos.org
with the word "subscribe" in the subject. To unsubscribe send a
message to the same address with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Arutz-7 News items (2/1/00)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 18:21:12 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

PA REJECTS ISRAELI FINAL-STATUS MAPS

In the Ramallah region today, the Israeli-Palestinian talks - aimed at
establishing principles for final-status negotiations - continue. The
Palestinians rejected final-status maps presented by Israel, insisting on the
pre-1967 borders instead. The maps reportedly propose that Israel annex
communities situated on the "Green Line," around Ariel in the Shomron, Ofra
and Bet El in Binyamin, and Ma'ale Adumim and the Gush Etzion bloc in
Judea. Israel's final-status vision apparently does not include, however, the
majority of townships on the mountain plateau - nor the town of Kiryat Arba.

BARAK TO PORUSH: CALL OFF PROTEST

Prime Minister Barak continues to exert heavy pressures on leaders of
Agudat Yisrael to refrain from launching a public protest against the
government's intention to transfer the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis to the
Palestinian Authority. This week, Barak asked Agudat Yisrael Honorary
President Rabbi Menachem Porush to call off a massive pro-Jerusalem Rally
slated for the near future. Along with Yesha leaders, Rabbi Porush
participated in a joint tour of Jerusalem today; he was accompanied by MKs
Nissim Z'ev, Shmuel Halpert (United Torah Judaism) and Yigal Bibi (National
Religious Party). Porush told Arutz-7 last week that the demonstration will
unite all Israelis, religious and secular alike, who hold dear the verse, "If I
forget thee Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning."

AMBULANCES WITHDRAWN FROM YESHA

Drastic Defense Ministry cutbacks on emergency medical aid for citizens in
Judea and Samaria (Yesha) went into effect last night at 11:00 PM. Ten
Magen David Adom ambulances stationed in Yesha were withdrawn, and
some 35 Magen David Adom medics in the area have been reassigned or
fired. In protest of the cutbacks in emergency medical services, six
ambulances from communities in Judea, Samaria and Binyamin parked this
morning in front of the Prime Minister's Jerusalem residence and left the
keys with the guards at the entrance. Some overseas donors of ambulances
which were earmarked for Yesha communities have expressed concern that
the vehicles remain in Yesha.

B'NAI BRITH CONDEMNS ARAB INCITEMENT AGAINST HADASSAH
WOMEN

"The bigoted, anti-Zionist, anti-Jewish language used by a Syrian delegate to
the United Nations this week - and echoed by Syria's Lebanese counterpart -
casts doubt on Damascus' real intentions regarding its negotiations with
Israel." So said B'nai Brith International President Richard D. Heideman this
week. Both the Syrian and Lebanese delegates to the United Nations
issued their comments in response to the application of Hadassah - the
Women's Zionist Organization of America - for consultative status at the
U.N.'s Economic and Social Council. "We all know that Zionism is based on
the concept of ethnic superiority, of occupation and exclusion of others," the
Syrian delegate declared, in an effort to deflect Hadassah's description of its
work in medical care of Jews and Arabs. The Lebanese delegate resurrected
the "Zionism-is-racism" equation, adding that the UN resolution was only
repealed "due to political reasons." The Hadassah Women's organization
has provided medical services to Jews and Arabs in Israel since 1913.

Heideman added that Syria seems to be going out of its way to undermine
confidence in itself as a peace partner for Israel. "From its foreign minister's
refusal to shake hands with the Israeli Prime Minister during negotiations, to
its rigid insistence on regaining Israeli territory it illegally occupied along the
Jordan River, to this latest outburst, Damascus signals that whatever it
wants, it is not peace."

SOLDIERS SCUFFLE

IDF soldiers and Palestinian paramilitary policemen exchanged blows at the
Netzarim junction in Gaza yesterday. Arutz-7 correspondent Haggai Seri
reports that officials at IDF Southern Command believe that the
Palestinians initiated the physical confrontations as part of a process of
escalation of tensions aimed at bringing about changes in the security
arrangements there.

Arutz Sheva News Service
   <http://www.ArutzSheva.org>
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000 / Sh'vat 25, 5760

_________________________
To subscribe to BPR send a message to bpr-list@philologos.org
with the word "subscribe" in the subject. To unsubscribe send a
message to the same address with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.